Professional pickleball player Mari Humberg has offered valuable insights for women aiming to gain an edge in mixed doubles, highlighting practical strategies to navigate traditional court formations.
Speaking on her Instagram channel about her approach, Humberg explained, “The situation here is what we call traditional mixed. The ladies are on the right side, and the guys are on the left. They usually take more court and play aggressively.”
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She outlined two key patterns to help women create opportunities and stay competitive. “Pattern number one: I’m going to engage in a cross-court rally for two or three shots, then switch to behind the guy to keep him on it. Going cross-court is going to make him feel comfortable taking more space. Once he’s done that, that’s when I would go behind him to get him back to the side and leave the woman vulnerable,” Humberg explained.
The second pattern, Humberg noted, starts in the opposite order. “Pattern number two is starting behind the guy, then going to the girl. And then since I’ve already gotten behind him, I’m actually going to go middle. So this is a three-shot pattern.”
Humberg emphasized the practical value of these strategies for female players. “If you’re feeling targeted and like you’re a little stuck in mixed, these patterns should be super helpful to you,” she said.
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Her insights offer a tactical roadmap for women to challenge aggressive opponents and gain a competitive edge in mixed doubles matches, highlighting the growing sophistication of professional pickleball strategies.
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(Written By Riya Mishra)
